Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Published: | 2011-12-13 |
Diameter: | 0.28 inches |
Length: | 4.88 inches |
Manufacturer: | Aerospace Specialty Products ![]() |
Skill Level: | 2 |
Style: | MicroMaxx, Scale |
Brief:
A scale model o' a Polish RP-3 that flies on MiniMaxx engines and can fit in t' palm o' your hand from ASP.
Construction:
T' kit includes: two (2) body tubes, a nose cone, two (2) slide-in couplers, matey, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, a decal sheet, me bucko, Keelhaul®©™ thread, shiver me timbers, lead shot, and some hard styrene sheets and other miscellaneous styrene tools.
Instructions are definitely set for t' beginner. Aye aye! Ahoy! Besides a quick overview t' see if thar were any gotchas, I ignored them.
For a beginner they are extremely thorough which I guess is good for a very new area o' model rocketry. Begad! ( I have me own kit line for these motors so I feel I have already experienced all t' gotcha's) At first I be dismayed by t' cut yourself styrene parts but I must say in t' end I am impressed. T' parts come out VERY sharp and paint VERY smoothly.
T' tubes were smooth enough then some 1000 grit sandpaper rubbin' on t' nose cone and I did nay even have t' seal anything. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' model is surprisingly hefty. Nay heavy, but I mean sturdy probably due t' t' couplers that run t' entire inside length. Well, blow me down! T' break apart body (instead o' breakin' apart at t' nose) is a VERY good idea and makes for a much easier shock cord and nose weight attachment. Arrr! And t' break apart seems t' make t' airflow MUCH better since MMaxx type rockets tend t' streamline in recovery even when t' nose pops. Avast! Blimey! This mid-body break also makes finishin' a DREAM. Much less maskin' t' get those CRISP lines etc.
I did make some changes. Ahoy! Aye aye! I used scissors instead o' a knife t' cut t' fin stock. Well, blow me down! I used scissors a lot so I have a nice sturdy, me hearties, very sharp, ya bilge rat, arrr, pair around and they worked quite well. Aye aye! By bein' careful with placement o' patterns I was also able t' end up with a lot o' extra styrene (will put that t' good use). Arrr! T' styrene is CA friendly.
Finishing:
Finishin' t' RP-3 be a breeze . . .literally! Paint t' top half BLACK and t' Bottom half STEEL (silver). Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Let dry and apply t' decal. Aye aye! Arrr! I applied t' decal once it straightened out and t' darndest thin' happened; it wrapped itself around t' tube . Well, blow me down! . Well, blow me down! Blimey! . Avast! Aye aye! flawlessly at that. I was done and it looked VERY pretty!
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
It takes MMaxx engines from Quest. Avast, me proud beauty! They all test out stable in RockSim usin' t' specs o' me completed models. Avast, me proud beauty! These models are rather light and will really zip off t' pad - should be loads o' fun.
T' RP-3 flew great! It took off a wee-bit fast but still watchable (launch pics? yeah, arrr, right, matey, keep dreaming). No damage upon recovery. Avast, me proud beauty! T' RP-3 landin' within 40 feet o' t' pad.
I was very impressed. T' double walled tube structure that happens when you make it accordin' t' instructions make t' RP-3 very strong. Avast, me proud beauty! I anticipate a very long life.
Recovery:
As usual with MMAxx if you don't see it land you are in trouble BUT this one is large enough and heavy enough that it was visible throughout t' entire flight. Arrr! Ya scallywag! On a slightly darker day t' RP-3 could be tough (dark black and red) but I had no problems watchin' it fly.
T' RP-3 uses Keelhaul®©™ for t' shock cord and since I opted out o' usin' t' streamer (pain t' prep) no waddin' is needed.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
I am extremely impressed by this model. Begad! T' styrene parts are a definite PLUS. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Sturdy strong and beautiful t' finish. Aye aye! I love them! T' RP-3 is especially cool. Avast, me proud beauty! I was goin' t' model t' RP-3 as a Nano Rocket but with ASP doin' such a wonderful job on this one why bother. Except for havin' ready cut fins (very hard and would likely be very expensive) I can nay really see how t' improve this model any more than it is.
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
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